Are we still excited? The NDP seemed jubilant and Jack Layton seemed downright delighted. I can’t quite figure out why, because as far as I can see this election is a huge loss for Canada.

An extreme right-wing majority under Stephen Harper? If I’m not dreaming, then maybe I can have someone induce a coma because this is nightmarish. The last evening I had that went this badly involved setting myself on fire.

For the ORANGE MENACE to form the Official Opposition is a huge boost to a party that, even two years ago, was purported to be dying. The NDP is the party that did the best in this election, and even though most of the voters in my province chose the wrong candidate (and yes, I am ashamed of that), I think Smilin’ Jack is going to be a good Leader of the Opposition.

So of course we’re terrified of people like Tom Lukiwski actually being allowed to say anything to anyone for any reason, or actually having any actual power (the nice thing about most of the Conservative MPs in SK is that they’ve been relegated as back benchers, so they can’t do much harm). And I, personally, am very, very concerned about the state of democracy in this country. But I do believe that Smilin’ Jack will be a force for good in an otherwise bleak parliamentary landscape.